The North Haven Republican Town Committee (RTC) has voted unanimously to endorse State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney to be the Republican nominee for governor of Connecticut.
McKinney’s name was put into nomination Tuesday night by Joe D’Errico, Sr. North Haven RTC Chair Carolyn Wright seconded the motion. North Haven First Selectman Mike Freda, North Haven Second Selectman Tim Doheny, State Senator Len Fasano, and State Representative Dave Yaccarino all spoke in favor of the endorsement.
D’Errico said, “I’m proud to support John McKinney because he is a true fiscal conservative who has been taking the fight to Dan Malloy day-in and day-out for three years on behalf of the hard working taxpayers in North Haven and throughout Connecticut. He has earned our trust and is the most qualified and most deserving candidate to represent the Republican Party in next fall’s gubernatorial election.”
First Selectman Freda said, “I am pleased that the North Haven RTC is making a strong statement in support of John McKinney, a wonderful candidate who brings a great deal of experience to state government.”
The endorsement is significant both in practical terms, as North Haven represented 12 Republican delegates in the 2012 election, and in historical terms, as the North Haven RTC was one of the first towns to endorse each of the last two Republican governors of Connecticut, Governor M. Jodi Rell and Governor John G. Rowland.
“North Haven hasn’t been this excited about a gubernatorial candidate in a long time,” said Wright. “In Senator McKinney, the Republican Party has a candidate who can beat Dan Malloy in 2014 and help Republicans throughout our state win elections and gain influence on the state and local level.”
“Through his distinguished service in the state Senate, Senator McKinney has demonstrated leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a capacity to understand complex challenges and get things done,” said Yaccarino. “He has been a great leader for the Republican Party in the state legislature and he will make a great governor.”
McKinney graciously accepted the endorsement. “The North Haven RTC has played an important roll in Republican politics in our state for decades. I am deeply honored to have earned their endorsement as our campaign continues to gain momentum,” he said.
John McKinney, an eight-term state senator from Fairfield and son of former 4th District Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, has been Connecticut’s Senate Minority Leader since 2007, and the highest-ranking Republican in state politics since Governor M. Jodi Rell left office in 2011. In May, McKinney was awarded the Connecticut Republican Party’s highest honor – the Prescott Bush Sr. Award.
In the Senate, McKinney has fought to lower taxes, create jobs, and eliminate wasteful government spending. He has co-authored and voted for several “No-Tax Increase” balanced budget proposals consistent with his vision of a leaner, more effective state government.
McKinney, 49, lives in Fairfield with his three children, Matthew, Graysen and Kate.
For more information, please visit www.McKinneyforGovernor.com